Paper holder for use in enlarging



.April 15, w LON PAPER HOLDER FOR USE IN ENLARG I NG Filed Nov. 22, 1939 mlllllllllllll F/cad Johw MRRE/v G/Lw/Y INVENTOR BY m. M

Patented Apr. 15, 1941 PAPER HOLDER FOR USE IN ENLARGING John Warren Gillon, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 22, 1939, Serial No. 305,685

Claims.

The present invention relates to photography, and particularly to a sensitive paper holder for use in making fixed size prints in enlarging.

Since miniature cameras have become so popular, the demand for enlarged prints has steadily increased. This demand has been created due to the fact that most miniature cameras use film of such small size, e. g. 35-mm., the contact prints made therefrom are too small to be desirable. Consequently, most commercial processing stations receiving exposed films of this small size are requested, or as a matter of policy, make fixed size enlarged prints of such small films to a popular size, e. g. 2%; x 3 The making of such enlargements involves the necessary steps of focusing the enlarger lens onto the focal plane to give the desired enlargement, locating the individual sheets of sensitive paper in the focal plane to receive the projected image, masking the sensitive paper, and removing the exposed sheet of paper from the focal plane for replacement by a new sheet. It is desirable that these several steps in the making of an enlargement be made as quickly as possible to meet the demand of commercial photo finishers, and in such a way as to eliminate the liability of fingerprints being left on the prints prior to development.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an enlarging paper holder to facilitate the rapid production of fixed size enlarged prints, and the use of which necessitates the least amount of handling of the sensitive paper.

Another object is to provide a paper holder of the type described which includes a projection table having a white focusing panel onto which the enlarged image is adapted to be projected for focusing and composing purposes, and having a loading table inclined to the projection table.

And another object is to provide a paper holder of the type described having a pivoted mask member adapted to move between an operative position, wherein it lies flat on the projection table in bounding relation with the focusing panel thereon, and a loading position wherein it lies flat on the inclined loading table.

And still another object is to provide paper locating and holding means on said mask member adapted to receive and locate the sensitive paper in covering relation with the opening in the mask member when said mask member is in its loading position, and adapted to hold said paper and position it flat on the projection table in-covering relation'with the focusing panel when the mask member is pivoted to its operative position.

And yet another object is to provide a projection on the loading table adapted to extend through the opening in said mask member, to move said paper from the surface of said mask member when the latter is in its loading position to facilitate loading of the paper onto the mask member.

And yet another object is to provide a paper holder having individual storage slots for the unexposed andexposed sensitive paper located and arranged to facilitate the loading and unloading of the mask member and the separation of the exposed and unexposed papers in total darkness.

The novel features thatI consider character- .istic of my invention are set forth withparticularity in the appended claims The invention itself, however, both as to its organization andit's method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing one, andthe preferred, embodiment of the paper holder constituting the present invention, and showing the mask member pivoted to its loading position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing the mask member pivoted to its operative position atop the projection table, and

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. l, and indicating the operative relation of the paper holder with respect to the. projected light beam of a photographic enlarging apparatus.

Like reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, the paper holder constituting the present invention comprises a support I0 including a projection table II and a loading table l2 inclined to said projection table, as clearly shown in the drawing. In use, the paper holder is adapted to be placed upona table, or other suitable support, with'the projection table ll in a horizontal position and located so that it will be located vertically beneath the projection lens of an enlargingapparatus indicated diagrammatically at l3 in Fig. 3. The projection table II is provided with a focusing panel M which will preferably be white and have a matte surface so that an image projected by the enlarging lens l3 can be observed clearly thereon for focusing and composing purposes. This focusing panel will have dimensions equal to the dimensions of the desired fixed size enlargement to be made so that the projected image will substantially fill said focusing panel.

Pivoted to upstanding ears l located at the apex of the angle between the projection table II and the loading table 12 is a mask member l6 having an opening I! the dimensions of which are substantially equal to the dimensions of the focusing panel [4 on the projection table, so that when the mask member is moved to its operative position on the projection table, as shown in Fig. 2, it will pass only the image originally projected and composed on the focusing panel i4. As will be understood by referring to Fig. 3, the support is provided with recesses H8 at the pivot point of the mask member B6 to permit the pivot point it of said mask member to be located below the top of the projection table without hampering the pivotal movement of said mask member, and for the purpose of permitting said mask member to lie flat on the top of the projection table in its operative position and to lie fiat upon the inclined surface of the loading table l2 in its loading position, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The under surface of the mask member, as the surface normally engaging the top of the projection table will be referred to throughout the specification, is provided with four paper holding and locating pins located adjacent and bounding three sides of the opening H in the mask member. The shanks of these pins are so located relative to one another and the edges of the opening I! in the mask as to engage the edges of a sensitive paper P and position said paper'relative to the opening I! in the mask member to give a uniform border around the finished print. Each of the pins 20 is provided with an enlarged head 2| which extends parallel to the plane of the mask member and overhangs the shanks of the pins so as to over hang the edges of the paper P and prevent the paper from dropping completely away from the mask member when said mask member is pivoted to its operative position atop the projection table as shown in in Fig. 2. It will be noticed that there are no locating pins located along. the edge of the mask toward the top of the loading table, and for the reason that the sensitive paper P is adapted to be slid into and removed from a loaded position on the mask member from this point.

After an unexposed piece of sensitive paper has been slid into engagement with the shanks 2| of locating pins 20, the mask member I6 is pivoted to its operative position, see Fig. 2, where the paper is brought into the projected beam of the enlarger and held flat in the focal plane of the projection lens I3. To permit of the mask member lying flat on the top of the projection table to hold the paper accurately in the focal plane of the projected image, the top of the projection table is provided with a plurality of recesses 22 into which the locating pins 20 are adapted to extend when the mask member is moved to its operative position. After the exposure has been made themask member I6 is pivoted back to its loading position on the loading table l2 in which position the exposed sensitive paper can be slid off of the mask and replaced with a fresh piece of paper.

To facilitate loading and unloading of the paper onto the mask member the loading table 12 is provided with a projection 23 which is adapted to extend through the opening I! in the mask member when said mask member is in its loading position, see Fig. 3. This projection 23, therefore, acts to move the sensitive paper P away from the under surface of the mask member and against the under side of the heads of the locating pins 20 when the mask member is in its loading position so that the edge of the paper toward the top of the mask member will be spaced from said mask member whereby it can be readily gripped by the fingers of the operator to facilitate its removal from the mask member without its having to be slid across the under surface thereof and be subject to undesirable scratching.

To expediate the use of this paper holder in the dark the support I0 is provided with two paper holding slots 25 and 26 which are adapted to hold a supply of unexposed :paper and the supply of exposed paper. These slots are preferably inclined so as to be substantially parallel to the surface of the loading table to facilitate the withdrawal of paper from one thereof for insertion onto the mask member and to permit insertion of exposed paper into one thereof after said paper is withdrawn from the mask member. Each of the loading slots 25 and 26 is provided with a cut-out portion 21 which facilitates the operator grabbing the edges of the paper with his fingers, and the paper is preferably inserted into the slots face downward so that the operator in grabbing a hold of the same will contact the rear faceof the paper thereby eliminating the chance of placing unnecessary fingerprints upon the sensitive surface of the paper :prior to development.

The paper holder is shown in operative position relative to the projection beam of an enlarging apparatus in Fig. 3, and the operation and use of this paper holder will be outlined hereinafter with reference to Fig. 3. The paper holder is placed on a table or any other suitable support so that the focusing panel M on the top of the projection table II thereof is located in the focal plane of the projection lens of the enlarging apparatus l3 and at a sufficient distance from said enlarging apparatus to give the desired fixed size enlargement; and the enlarging apparatus is focused and the paper holder adjusted relative to the enlarger lens until the image projected thereby and thrown onto the focusing :panel is clear and has the composition desired. During this focusing step the mask member 16 will be lying flat on the surface of the loading table in the position shown in Fig. 3 and an unexposed sensitive paper will have been pulled out of one of the slots 25 and 26, depending upon which stores the unexposed paper, and will have been inserted onto the mask member in engagement with the locating pins 20 and under the heads 2| thereof. Now the mask member 1'6 will be pivoted to its operative position atop the projection table II whereupon the sensitive paper carried thereby will be located in the focal plane of the projected image with its sensitive surface upward. After the desired exposure has been given, the mask member I6 will be returned to its loading position on the loading table and the sensitive paper P can be slid off thereof, inserted intothe storage slot provided for the exposed paper face down, and a new, or an unexposed piece of paper can be pulled out of the other storage slot and inserted into proper position on the mask member for a repetition of the foregoing exposure steps. It is pointed out that the loading table of the paper holder as a whole is normally removed from the direct projected rays of light emanating from the enlarging apparatus so that only stray rays of light are apt to strike the loading table proper. For this reason it is not necessary to extinguish the lamp of the enlarging apparatus between individual enlargements which fact appreciably adds to the speed with which enlargements can be made by the use of this paper holder. The fact that the sensitive paper, when in loading position upon the mask member or when stored in the storage slots 25 and 26, is always face down further assures that the sensitive paper will not be light struck by stray rays of light emanating from the enlarging apparatus during the time the paper is not actually in the projected beam of the enlarging apparatus even though the lamp of the enlarging apparatus is left on at all times.

Although I have shown and described one particular form of paper holding and locating means on the under surface of the mask member IE it will be readily appreciated that other forms of holding and locating means could be provided without going beyond the scope of the present invention. For instance, instead of using individual locating pins 20, as shown and described, a channel member could be provided around three sides of the opening in the mask member [6 said channel having one wall extending perpendicularly from the surface of the mask member and having the other wall overhanging the edges of the sensitive paper or extending inwardly toward the opening IT in the mask member. Such an arrangement would be substantially the same as the locating means I have chosen to show for illustrating my invention and would differ from said locating means only as to form and not as to purpose and method of operation. If such a channel were provided around the edges of the opening in the mask member the top of the projection table II would necessarily have to be provided with a recess of such form as to receive said channel and permit the under surface of the mask member IE to lie flat on the top of the projection table to hold the paper fiat in the focal plane of the enlarging apparatus.

From the above description it will be readily appreciated that the paper holder constituting the present invention possesses features which,

while apparently simple, renders the use of the paper holder simple and appreciably increases the speed at which fixed size enlargements can be made, While at the same time reducing the liability of fingerprints appearing on the sensitive surface of a printing paper prior to development. Such features might be enumerated as including a white focusing panel provided on the top of the projection table to facilitate the initial focusing of the projection apparatus and the composition of the projected image. A mask member adapted to be moved between an operative and a loading position and provided with paper locating and positioning means by means of which the sensitive paper can be readily and easily positioned accurately relative to the opening in the mask member, and which locating and positioning means are adapted to hold the paper to the mask member so that the paper will be readily moved into the focal plane of the enlarging apparatus and out of said plane upon the pivotal movement of said mask member between its two positions, whereby there is no necessity of the operator grabbing a hold of the paper with his fingers during these two steps in the enlarging procedure. The provision of storage slots for the unexposed and exposed paper and their par- 75 ticular location relative to the loading position of the mask member makes possible the rapid loading and unloading of said mask member and the separation of the unexposed and exposed paper, in total darkness. In addition, the fact that the mask member in its loading position is removed from the direct projected rays of the enlarging apparatus, along with the fact that the paper when loaded thereinto has its sensitive surface directed away from said projected beam of the enlarging apparatus or any stray light that may emanate therefrom, permits the operator to leave the enlarging lamp on at all times without danger of fogging the sensitive paper during the time it is positioned on the mask while said mask is in its loading position. The elimination of the necessity of turning the enlarging lamp off between individual enlargements necessarily increases the speed with which subsequent enlargements can be made and reduces wear and tear on the projection apparatus, and particularly the electrical circuit thereof. The fact that the sensitive paper at all times, when not in position for exposure, is face downward eliminates, or reduces, the danger of the operator applying fingerprints to the sensitive surface of said paper when handling the same.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be limited to the precise details of construction shown and described, but is intended to cover all modifications coming within the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patents of the United States is:

1. A paper holder of the type described comprising a projection table onto the top of which a photographic image is adapted to be projected, a loading table connected to said projection table and having its face inc-lined relative to the top of said projection table, a mask member pivoted to one of said tables to swing between an operative position, wherein the under surface thereof lies flat on the top of the projection table, and a loading position, wherein the upper surface thereof lies on the face of said loading table, means on the under surface of said mask member for receiving and locating a sensitive paper in covering relation with the opening therein when the mask member is in its loading position, means on said loading table for normally forcing the paper from the under surface of said mask member when the same is in loadin position to permit easy access to said paper, and said projection table provided with a recess adapted to receive said paper holding means when said mask member is pivoted to its operative position, whereby the under surface of said mask member is adapted to lie fiat on the top of said table to hold said paper flat thereon.

2. A paper holder of the type described comprising a projection table onto the top of which a photographic image is adapted to be projected, a loading table connected to said projection table and having its face inclined relative to the top of said projection table, a mask member having an opening of a size tobound the image projected onto the projection table and pivoted to one of said tables to swing between an operative position, wherein the undersurface thereof lies flat on the top of the projection table, and a loading position, wherein th upper surface thereof ;lies flat on the face of said loading table, paper holding means carried by the underside of said -mask member and located around the opening therein for receiving and locating a sensitive paper in covering relation with the opening when the mask member is in its loading position, means on said loading table adapted to extend through the opening in said mask member when. the same is in its loading position and adapted to force the paper from the underside of said mask member to permit easy access thereto, and said projection table provided with a recess for receiving said paper holding means when said mask member is pivoted to its operative position, whereby the under surface of said mask member is adapted to lie flat on the top of said table to hold said paper flat thereon.

3. A paper holder of the type described comprising a support having a first surface onto which a photographic image is adapted to be projected, and a second surface inclined to said first surface, a mask member mounted on said support to move between an operative position wherein its underside lies flat on said first surface to bound the image projected thereon, and a loading position wherein its upper surface lies flat on said second surface, means on the under surface of said mask member for receiving and locating a sensitive paper in covering relation with the opening in said mask member when the same is in its loading position, means on said inclined surface adapted to extend through the opening in said mask when the latter is in its loading position to engage and force the paper from the under side of said mask member to permit easy access thereto, and said first surface provided with a recess adapted to receive said paper locating means when the mask member is in its operative position, whereby the under surface of said mask member is adapted to lie flat on the top of said first surface to hold the paper flat thereon.

perpendicular to the plane of said mask member adapted to engage the edges of said paper and a portion spaced from and extending parallel'to the underside of said mask member to overhang the margin of said paper and permit the same to move away from said mask in parallel relation thereto, a projection on said inclined surface adapted to extend through said opening in the mask member when the latter is moved to its leading position and for forcing the paper away from the underside of said mask member to permit easy access thereto, said first surface provided with a recess adapted to receive said paper receiving and locating means when said mask member is moved to its operative position, whereby the undersurface of said mask member is adapted to lie flat on the top of said table to hold said paper flat thereon.

5. A paper holder of the type described comprising a projection table the top of which is provided with an area onto which a photographic image is adapted to be projected for focusing and composing purposes, a loading table connected to said projection table and having its face inclined relative to the top of said projection table, a mask member having an opening equal in size to said area onto which the photographic image is adapted to be projected, said mask member pivoted to one of said tables to move between an operative position, wherein the under surface thereof lies flat on the top of said projection table, and a loading position, wherein the upper surface thereof lies on the face of said loadin table, pins extending perpendicularly from the under surface of the mask member and located adjacent three sides of the opening therein for engaging the edges of a sheet of sensitized paper slid into engagement therewith to locate said pa- 4. A paper holder of the type described comprising a support having a first surface onto which a photographic image is adapted to be projected, and having a second surface inclined to said first surface, a mask member pivoted to said support to move between an operative position, wherein its underside lies fiat on said first surfaceto bound the image projected thereon, and a loading position, wherein its upper surface lies flat on said second surface, a paper receiving and locating means bounding the opening in said mask member and including a portion extending per with respect to said opening, heads on the ends of said pins and extending parallel to the mask member and from the pins toward said opening, a projection on the face of said loadin table adapted to extend through the opening in said mask member when the same is in loading position to force the paper from the surface of said mask member to permit easy access thereto, said projection table provided with recesses adapted to receive said pins when the mask member is pivoted to its operative position, whereby the under surface of said mask member is adapted to lie flat on the top of said table to hold said papers flat thereon.

JOHN WARREN GILLON. 

